VFL midfielder banned two years for doping

Adam Cooper

Published: February 8 2013 - 3:00AM

A VFL player has had his suspension for taking a banned performance-enhancing drug found in a supplement increased from nine months to two years.Frankston midfielder Matthew Clark, 22, told Fairfax Media on Thursday night he would have to spend another 15 months out of football after the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority won its appeal at an AFL Victoria tribunal hearing.ASADA last year appealed against the leniency on the initial suspension AFL Victoria imposed on Clark.Clark was found guilty of a doping offence after the banned substance dimethylamylamine was detected in his system after a game in 2011.The substance was an ingredient in a powdered supplement, Hemo Rage, that Clark took before the game. The supplement was bought at a Melbourne store.The increased suspension is a bitter blow for Clark, who had hoped to return to football in a suburban competition next month. He must now sit out the 2013 season and part of the 2014 season.Another VFL player faced the tribunal on Thursday over a charge relating to performance-enhancing drugs, but it is understood he will have to wait several weeks before the verdict is known.

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/vfl-midfielder-banned-two-years-for-doping-20130207-2e1ko.html